Page 94 - JSOM Winter 2018

Effect of Spearmint Extract Containing Rosmarinic Acid
on Physical and Executive Functioning After a Tactical Operation

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Ishay Ostfeld, MD ; Yuval Ben-Moshe, MD ; Mattan W. Hoffman, MS ;
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Hadar Shalev, MD ; Jay R. Hoffman, PhD *

ABSTRACT
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We examined the effect of a proprietary spearmint extract con- and fine-tuned by specific eye movements. If this system is
taining rosmarinic acid (PSE) on physical, cognitive, and exec- fatigued, the individuality’s ability to maintain focus, attention
utive functioning of study participants after a high-risk tactical to detail, and track objects may become disrupted. 3
operation while sleep deprived for 24 hours. Ten Operators
(mean ± standard deviation: age, 35.1 ± 5.2 years; height, Extracts from plants in the Lamiaceae are rich in phenolic
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177.6 ± 5.3cm; weight, 81.3 ± 9.3kg) from an elite counter- compounds and may provide cognitive benefit. Although
terrorism unit volunteered to participate in this randomized, studies examining the effects of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.)
double-blind, parallel-design study. Participants were ran- specifically on cognitive function are limited, recent investi-
domly assigned into either the PSE or placebo (PL) group and gations indicate that extracts of spearmint containing rosma-
ingested 900mg/day PSE or an equivalent amount of PL for 17 rinic acid may have beneficial effects on learning, memory, and
days. Physical, cognitive, and executive functioning was tested brain-tissue markers of oxidation. Furthermore, others have
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before PST supplementation (PRE) and within 1 hour of the reported that rosmarinic acid can increase brain-derived neu-
operation’s conclusion (POST). Magnitude-based inferences rotrophic factor expression in the brain and reduce depression
indicated that differences between PSE and PL in jump power, in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. 8
reactive agility, eye-hand coordination, and cognition were
unclear. However, subjective feelings of energy, alertness, and Considering the decrements associated in cognitive function
focus were very likely, likely, and possibly better for PSE than associated with sleep deprivation and sleep restriction, it is
PL, respectively. There was no difference (p = .64) between possible that a supplement containing a proprietary spearmint
groups in identifying the correct target; however, all partici- extract containing rosmarinic acid (PSE) may provide a poten-
pants in the PSE group correctly identified the target, whereas tial herbal intervention in attenuating the associated negative
60% of participants in the PL group correctly identified the sequelae. Thus, in this study, we examined the effect of PSE on
target at POST. Although the results of this study do not pro- physical, cognitive, and executive functioning of study partic-
vide conclusive evidence regarding the efficacy of PSE, they do ipants after a high-risk tactical operation while sleep deprived
suggest additional research is warranted in a larger sample of for 24 hours.
participants.
Methods
Keywords: dietary intervention; Special Operations; perfor-
mance; nutrition, sleep deprivation Participants
Ten male operators from an Israeli elite counterterrorism unit
volunteered to participate in this randomized, double-blind,
Introduction parallel-design study. All participants were professional (ca-
reer) active members of this unit. Participants were not per-
Lack of sleep affects the human brain in several ways. It has mitted to use any additional dietary supplements and did
been shown to intensify neural and autonomic responses not consume any androgens or other performance-enhancing
to increasingly negative stimuli. One night of sleep loss can drugs. Screening for performance-enhancing drug use and
lead to increased impulsivity to negative stimuli, such that additional supplementation was accomplished via a health
sleep-deprived individuals have an increased inability to in- questionnaire completed during participant recruitment. In-
hibit a response and have faster incorrect responses (i.e., go/ dividuals were also excluded if they were taking any type of
no-go tasks). Fatigue due to sleep deprivation results in de- prescription or over-the-counter medications. After an expla-
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creased attention and focus, which can also affect the ocu- nation of all procedures, risks, and benefits, each participant
lomotor system. Decreases in sensitivity of the oculomotor provided his informed consent to participate in the study. The
system may affect the ability of an individual to track objects medical ethics board and the Helsinki Committee of Soroka
with normal sensorimotor synchronization. During visual Medical Center approved this study. Operators were ran-
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tracking, synchronization of the gaze and target is maintained domly assigned to one of two groups: PSE (n = 5; mean ±
*Correspondence to Jay R. Hoffman, PhD, Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness, Sport and Exercise Science, Burnett School of Biomed-
ical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816; or jay.hoffman@ucf.edu
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1 Dr Ostfeld is with Israel Defense Force, Medical Corps, Tel Hashomer, Israel. Yuval Ben-Moshe is with Israel Border Police, Israel. Mattan W.
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Hoffman is at Apex Sport Performance, Tel Aviv, Israel. Hadar Shalev is at Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. Dr Hoffman is at Sport
and Exercise Science and Burnet School of Biomedical Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
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